David Plans to Build a Temple

(A)Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, that the king said to (B)Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in (C)a house of cedar, but the ark of God (D)dwells within tent curtains.” Nathan said to the king, “(E)Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.”

But in the same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, “Go and say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord, “(F)Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in? For (G)I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about (H)in a tent, even in a [a]tabernacle. (I)Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, (J)which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’

God’s Covenant with David

“Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “(K)I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, (L)to be ruler over My people Israel. (M)I have been with you wherever you have gone and (N)have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth. 10 I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and (O)will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, (P)nor will the [b]wicked afflict them any more as formerly, 11 even (Q)from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and (R)I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that (S)the Lord will make a house for you. 12 (T)When your days are complete and you (U)lie down with your fathers, (V)I will raise up your [c]descendant after you, who will come forth from [d]you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 (W)He shall build a house for My name, and (X)I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 (Y)I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; (Z)when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, 15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, (AA)as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 (AB)Your house and your kingdom shall endure before [e]Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’” 17 In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Prayer

18 Then David the king went in and sat before the Lord, and he said, “(AC)Who am I, O Lord [f]God, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? 19 And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord God, (AD)for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future. And (AE)this is the [g]custom of man, O Lord God. 20 Again what more can David say to You? For (AF)You know Your servant, O Lord God! 21 (AG)For the sake of Your word, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness to let Your servant know. 22 For this reason (AH)You are great, O Lord God; for (AI)there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, (AJ)according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And (AK)what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and (AL)to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, before (AM)Your people whom (AN)You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods? 24 For (AO)You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and (AP)You, O Lord, have become their God. 25 Now therefore, O Lord God, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do as You have spoken, 26 (AQ)that Your name may be magnified forever, by saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27 For You, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have [h]made a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘(AR)I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found [i]courage to pray this prayer to You. 28 Now, O Lord God, You are God, and (AS)Your words are truth, and You have [j]promised this good thing to Your servant. 29 Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord God, have spoken; and (AT)with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 7:6 Lit dwelling place
  2. 2 Samuel 7:10 Lit sons of wickedness
  3. 2 Samuel 7:12 Lit seed
  4. 2 Samuel 7:12 Lit your bowels
  5. 2 Samuel 7:16 So with Gr and some ancient mss; M.T. you
  6. 2 Samuel 7:18 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so through out the ch
  7. 2 Samuel 7:19 Or law
  8. 2 Samuel 7:27 Lit uncovered the ear of
  9. 2 Samuel 7:27 Lit his heart
  10. 2 Samuel 7:28 Or spoken

God’s Promise to David(A)

After the king was settled in his palace(B) and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies(C) around him,(D) he said to Nathan(E) the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house(F) of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”(G)

Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind,(H) go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”

But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:

“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you(I) the one to build me a house to dwell in?(J) I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day.(K) I have been moving from place to place with a tent(L) as my dwelling.(M) Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites,(N) did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd(O) my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house(P) of cedar?(Q)”’

“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock,(R) and appointed you ruler(S) over my people Israel.(T) I have been with you wherever you have gone,(U) and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.(V) Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.(W) 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant(X) them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.(Y) Wicked(Z) people will not oppress them anymore,(AA) as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders[a](AB) over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.(AC)

“‘The Lord declares(AD) to you that the Lord himself will establish(AE) a house(AF) for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest(AG) with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood,(AH) and I will establish his kingdom.(AI) 13 He is the one who will build a house(AJ) for my Name,(AK) and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.(AL) 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son.(AM) When he does wrong, I will punish him(AN) with a rod(AO) wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him,(AP) as I took it away from Saul,(AQ) whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me[b]; your throne(AR) will be established(AS) forever.(AT)’”

17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

David’s Prayer(AU)

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I,(AV) Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree,(AW) Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human![c]

20 “What more can David say(AX) to you? For you know(AY) your servant,(AZ) Sovereign Lord. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.

22 “How great(BA) you are,(BB) Sovereign Lord! There is no one like(BC) you, and there is no God(BD) but you, as we have heard with our own ears.(BE) 23 And who is like your people Israel(BF)—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name(BG) for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders(BH) by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed(BI) from Egypt?[d] 24 You have established your people Israel as your very own(BJ) forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.(BK)

25 “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise(BL) you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name(BM) will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established(BN) in your sight.

27 Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy,(BO) and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing(BP) the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 7:11 Traditionally judges
  2. 2 Samuel 7:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts you
  3. 2 Samuel 7:19 Or for the human race
  4. 2 Samuel 7:23 See Septuagint and 1 Chron. 17:21; Hebrew wonders for your land and before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt, from the nations and their gods.

A sated [a]man [b]loathes honey,
But to a famished [c]man any bitter thing is sweet.
Like a (A)bird that wanders from her nest,
So is a man who (B)wanders from his [d]home.
(C)Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
So a [e]man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.
10 Do not forsake your own (D)friend or (E)your father’s friend,
And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;
Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.
11 (F)Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,
That I may (G)reply to him who reproaches me.
12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself,
The [f]naive proceed and pay the penalty.
13 (H)Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;
And for an [g]adulterous woman hold him in pledge.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:7 Lit soul
  2. Proverbs 27:7 Lit tramples on
  3. Proverbs 27:7 Lit soul
  4. Proverbs 27:8 Lit place
  5. Proverbs 27:9 Lit soul’s
  6. Proverbs 27:12 Lit simple
  7. Proverbs 27:13 Lit strange

One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
    but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

Like a bird that flees its nest(A)
    is anyone who flees from home.

Perfume(B) and incense bring joy to the heart,
    and the pleasantness of a friend
    springs from their heartfelt advice.

10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
    and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster(C) strikes you—
    better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;(D)
    then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.(E)

12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.(F)

13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.(G)

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Give Heed

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to [a]what we have heard, so that (A)we do not drift away from it. For if the word (B)spoken through (C)angels proved [b]unalterable, and (D)every transgression and disobedience received a just [c](E)penalty, (F)how will we escape if we neglect so great a (G)salvation? [d]After it was at the first (H)spoken through the Lord, it was (I)confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by (J)signs and wonders and by (K)various [e]miracles and by [f](L)gifts of the Holy Spirit (M)according to His own will.

Earth Subject to Man

For He did not subject to angels [g](N)the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. But one has testified (O)somewhere, saying,

(P)What is man, that You remember him?
Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him?
(Q)You have made him [h]for a little while lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
[i]And have appointed him over the works of Your hands;
(R)You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now (S)we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

Jesus Briefly Humbled

But we do see Him who was (T)made [j]for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, (U)because of the suffering of death (V)crowned with glory and honor, so that (W)by the grace of God He might (X)taste death (Y)for everyone.

10 For (Z)it was fitting for Him, (AA)for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to (AB)perfect the [k](AC)author of their salvation through sufferings. 11 For both He who (AD)sanctifies and those who (AE)are [l]sanctified are all (AF)from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them (AG)brethren, 12 saying,

(AH)I will proclaim Your name to My brethren,
In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.”

13 And again,

(AI)I will put My trust in Him.”

And again,

(AJ)Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.”

14 Therefore, since the children share in [m](AK)flesh and blood, (AL)He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that (AM)through death He might render powerless (AN)him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through (AO)fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not [n]give help to angels, but He gives help to the [o]descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He [p]had (AP)to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might (AQ)become a merciful and faithful (AR)high priest in (AS)things pertaining to God, to (AT)make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was (AU)tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 2:1 Lit the things that have been heard
  2. Hebrews 2:2 Or steadfast
  3. Hebrews 2:2 Or recompense
  4. Hebrews 2:3 Lit Which was
  5. Hebrews 2:4 Or works of power
  6. Hebrews 2:4 Lit distributions
  7. Hebrews 2:5 Lit the inhabited earth
  8. Hebrews 2:7 Or ...him a little lower than...
  9. Hebrews 2:7 Two early mss do not contain And...hands
  10. Hebrews 2:9 Or a little lower
  11. Hebrews 2:10 Or leader
  12. Hebrews 2:11 Or being sanctified
  13. Hebrews 2:14 Lit blood and flesh
  14. Hebrews 2:16 Lit take hold of angels, but He takes hold of
  15. Hebrews 2:16 Lit seed
  16. Hebrews 2:17 Lit was obligated to be

Warning to Pay Attention

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.(A) For since the message spoken(B) through angels(C) was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,(D) how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?(E) This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord,(F) was confirmed to us by those who heard him.(G) God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles,(H) and by gifts of the Holy Spirit(I) distributed according to his will.(J)

Jesus Made Fully Human

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone(K) has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    a son of man that you care for him?(L)
You made them a little[a] lower than the angels;
    you crowned them with glory and honor
    and put everything under their feet.”[b][c](M)

In putting everything under them,[d] God left nothing that is not subject to them.[e] Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.[f] But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor(N) because he suffered death,(O) so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.(P)

10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists,(Q) should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.(R) 11 Both the one who makes people holy(S) and those who are made holy(T) are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.[g](U) 12 He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the assembly I will sing your praises.”[h](V)

13 And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”[i](W)

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”[j](X)

14 Since the children have flesh and blood,(Y) he too shared in their humanity(Z) so that by his death he might break the power(AA) of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil(AB) 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear(AC) of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.(AD) 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[k](AE) fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful(AF) and faithful high priest(AG) in service to God,(AH) and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.(AI) 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.(AJ)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 2:7 Or them for a little while
  2. Hebrews 2:8 Psalm 8:4-6
  3. Hebrews 2:8 Or You made him a little lower than the angels;/ you crowned him with glory and honor/ and put everything under his feet.”
  4. Hebrews 2:8 Or him
  5. Hebrews 2:8 Or him
  6. Hebrews 2:8 Or him
  7. Hebrews 2:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 12; and in 3:1, 12; 10:19; 13:22.
  8. Hebrews 2:12 Psalm 22:22
  9. Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:17
  10. Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:18
  11. Hebrews 2:17 Or like his brothers